The Boston Bruins pepperd the Buffalo Sabres with 47 shots on goal on Wednesday night. It was all part of a 5-1 win for the Bruins over Buffalo on Thanksgiving Eve at KeyBank Center.
Kyle Okposo's fifth goal of the season came more than halfway through the opening period to gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead over Boston. The forward used a Bruins defender as a screen and kept his shot low to the ice to beat goalie Jeremy Swayman. Rasmus Asplund was credited with the lone assist on the game's first goal.
Boston answered nearly three minutes later when Aaron Dell and the Sabres could not control a loose puck in front of the goal. It eventually found Patrice Bergeron, and the Bruins captain scored his seventh goal of the year. The score tied the game 1-1 late in the opening period.
Less than a minute later, Charlie Coyle beat Dell over the shoulder to give the Bruins their first lead of the night, 2-1.
The Bruins extended the lead to 3-1 late in the frame when David Patrnak recorded his sixth goal of the year. It was the forward's second point of the night after he recorded the primary assist on Boston's first goal. Mike Reilly then made it 4-1 when he scored on the team's 22nd shot of the period.
John Hayden was awarded a penalty shot opportunity after he was taken to the ice on a partial break away. However, Swayman stopped the chance to keep Boston in front by three goals midway through the middle frame.
Buffalo outshot the Bruins 14-7 in the second period, but failed to cut into their three-goal deficit. Dustin Tokarski replaced Dell in goal to start the period and did not allow any goals on seven shots on goal.
Zemgus Girgensons was assessed a five-minute major penalty for boarding, as well as a game misconduct, following a hit on defenseman Charlie McAvoy along the boards in the Boston zone. McAvoy was helped by the Bruins training staff to the locker room after the hit.
Taylor Hall scored the only power play goal during the major penalty. It was his fifth goal of the season, and was assisted by Craig Smith and Coyle. Hall's goal late in the third made the score 5-1 in favor of the Bruins.
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GAME RECAP:
Goal Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 10:56 - Kyle Okposo (5) (Rasmus Asplund)
BOS: 13:29 - Patrice Bergeron (7) (David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand); 14:20 - Charlie Coyle (6) (Nick Foligno); 16:59 - David Pastrnak (6) PPG (Charlie McAvoy, Patrice Bergeron); 19:00 - Mike Reilly (2) (Nick Foligno, Jakub Zboril)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
BOS: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
BOS: 15:26 - Taylor Hall (5) PPG (Craig Smith, Charlie Coyle)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 15:30 - Rasmus Dahlin (Hooking - 2 min.)
BOS: 2:25 - Jakub Zboril (Cross-checking - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: 1:42 - Colin Miller (Fighting - 5 min.)
BOS: 1:42 - Nick Foligno (Fighting - 5 min.); 9:22 - Derek Forbort (Tripping - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: 13:46 - Zemgus Girgensons (Boarding - 5 min.); 13:46 - Zemgus Girgensons (Game misconduct)
BOS: NONE
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Patrice Bergeron - BOS
2.) David Pastrnak - BOS
3.) Nick Foligno - BOS
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What's next:
The Sabres will have the Thanksgiving holiday off before returning to game action on Friday night against the Montreal Canadiens. Faceoff at KeyBank Center is set for 7 p.m. EST with Sabres pregame coverage starting at 6 p.m. EST with Schopp and the Bulldog.
